The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-16
Hon. Edward Bsreitung.

Mr.. Breitung. whose death occurred ON the
9Th instant In Georgia. had many friends
and acquaintances III Van Buren, county,
acquired during his early residence here soon
after coming Ia America.
The writer has frequently met Mr.. Brett
ung at Negaunee and answered his inquiries
concerning people IN this vicinity with whom
be was formerly acquainted and whom he
kindly remembered, and has heard him
relate some of his early experiences here.
where he first became acquainted with Amer
lean life and customs. he stated that him
self a,id John Ihhng, the genial superntend-
ent of the i. d =. ii. *. H., were fellow
students IN Germany and came over the sea
% America together and. for the first few
years, united their efforts 10 obtain foot
hold in the land OF their adoption. Mr..
Ihing has chung to the spot where these
endeavors were made, while his whiom com
panion and schoolmate wandered 10 the
Upper Peninsula, and there attained to the
great wealth and honorable distinction which
his energy. ability and high character have
won for him.
Prosperity, however, did not Danish from
his heart the remembrance of the friend of
his boyhood Intercourse between them has
been maintained by correspondence and
occasional visits during all the years that
have passed since their paths III life became
so widely separated. Letters received by Mr..
Ihlng from his friend during the past few
months, display cordial and Intimate rela
ton between the parties, and the writer has
just gathered from Nj. Ihing n few facts
concerning the early history OF himself and
Mr. Breitung and of their mutual experiences
after landing in this country.
They were students together at the gym
nashua of Meiningen in the duchy OF Sake.
Meiningen. were OF about the same age and
IN the saIhe classes, pursuing the studies OF
Latin, French and branches relating 30 min
ing, the institution being somewhat of a
mining school. Under such circumstances,
as was NATURAL they became very Intimate
friends Bretung was accustomed TO spend
his vacations with his cassmate, and together
they cndeavored TO forecast the future. The
government was engaged in IA war with Den
mark-the Schlesweig- Holstein strugg and
the young men were nearing an age that
rendered them liable TO be drafted into the
army. service from which their condition
as students aid not exempt them. Ihling
proposed that they emigrate to America, TO
which proposition Breitung readily assented.
To this scheme the consent of their parents
was reluctantly given. The threatened army
service was the principal cause of their sane
ton to the departure of their boys TO seek
their fortunes in this far-away land. An
obstacle intervened in the matter of procur-
ing the necessary passports in time of war,
but this difficulty was finally overcome in a
measure. Ihling, fortunately. had an uncle
who was a government official aud in posi-
ton 10 favor the young students. VINO were
so anxious to expatriate themselves. He
secured them permission TO go to Bremen,
whence they succeeded in leaving the coun-
try and crossing the ocean. Neither of them
knew word OF the English language, but
they had friends in Milwaukee aud planned
TO reach that city and afterwards TO go to
California, the fame of whose mineral wealth
had reached their ears.
lie two boys landed in New York in Sep
tembe., 1919, with very small sum of